She walked along beside Miriam, her mind full of the test protocols that had been developed yesterday afternoon. This was an extremely excited place. Sam Rush had called Miriam history’s most important experimental animal. That reflected the thinking of the whole institution. And Sarah’s as well.

Obviously, they wouldn’t be keeping her in any cages, but the paperwork had been started for an involuntary commitment to Riverside’s Psychiatric Center. The board wasn’t too worried about the details. Legal didn’t feel that Miriam Blaylock could successfully press a suit to win her freedom.

They had a nice room all ready. Sturdy, well locked. On the violent ward. Sarah felt like ordering flowers for it, she was so delighted that Miriam had returned.

Only God knew what this was going to mean. Prizes, grants, extraordinary breakthroughs. The kind of incredible chance that scientists don’t even dream about.

As they passed people in the halls eyebrows were raised, smiles opened up, Sarah got a few quick arm squeezes. As soon as Tom had called Marty Rifkind in X ray word must have spread through the institution. People thought of Miriam as the find of the century, perhaps of all time. And rightly so.

Rifkind bustled around his equipment making fussy, excited preparations. The receptionist had directed them to his best suite. When they came in he was all but dancing with anticipation. Sarah watched his reaction when he first saw Miriam. He suddenly became very serious, almost wary.

It reminded her of the way fodder mice acted when placed in a snake’s terrarium.

“Miriam,” Sarah said, “we’re going to want you to lie on this table.”

“It’s quite comfortable, really,” Marty blurted.

“It’ll be moving around a lot, but you won’t fall off,” Sarah continued. Was she the only one here capable of dealing with Miriam? Rifkind was scurrying around all over the place, completely forgetting the requirements of the profession. Miriam got up on the table. “I’m sorry,” Sarah said, “but you’ll have to take off your clothes.” Miriam began to comply. “Not everything,” Sarah added hastily. “Just your outer garments and any metal objects.” Miriam’s eyes met hers, gay, laughing. It was an awful moment.

Rifkind controlled himself enough to affix the straps that would restrain Miriam as the table moved from position to position. She allowed herself to be strapped down, but Sarah noticed the rigidity of her face, the watery stare. Miriam was frightened. Somehow it touched Sarah. “You can unbuckle those yourself if you want to,” she said. Miriam looked at her, the relief obvious.

Rifkind plastered on his most ingratiating smile. “We’re going to do a full-body scan. One picture for each quadrant of the body, one for each skull view and two for the legs. That way we’ll have a full record of your skeleton.”

“Minimal dosage. I don’t like X ray.”